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Much like the race to build a better mousetrap, it often seems like there’s an endless stream of new product news announcing the latest and greatest product that can take your project’s sustainability goals across the finish line. There’s something about the concept of sustainable products that leads many to believe that sustainability can only be found in a new product.[continue reading]

Most of us are aware that marketing greatly impacts the way consumers make decisions and ultimately make purchases or investments. Still, depending on the products or services you are attempting to market, the costs and complexity of executing a marketing campaign will vary depending on the product's marketability. Thus, if you are attempting to market energy efficiency as a package of services and products, then you need to focus on developing an in-depth marketing plan.†[continue reading]

The idea of business transparency might seem antithetical to success and may frighten some companies. But collaborative efforts across businesses and sectors have shown that the triple-bottom-line benefits of transparency far outweigh the perceived risks. In fact, as more consumers demand proof that the products they buy fulfill the promise of the label, transparency is becoming a key differentiator that sets successful companies apart.[continue reading]

ACI California brought lots of good insights and opportunities for the home performance industry at large. The biggest buzz is the pay-for-performance concept, which is making progress in California, New Jersey, and New York. It was also great to see so many contractors presenting, sharing their wares and experiences with their peers. That’s really what ACI is about—sharing, collaborating, and re-energizing those in the trenches.[continue reading]

Hawaii is notorious for leading the nation in aloha spirit—and solar power. Up to 53% of Hawaii's system peak load is powered by solar, a whopping penetration level that dwarfs the rest of the country.[continue reading]

Andy Nelson is the CEO and president of San Diego-based Willis Allen Real Estate. Joining the firm in 1977 as the youngest team member, Nelson drew on his leadership experience and training as a former naval officer to implement his innovative ideas and became CEO four years later. Nelson continues to grow the business by researching new high-end companies throughout the world to partner with and advancing technology and tools to service today’s homeowner. ...[continue reading]

Last year I moved into a house that needed some work. So far I’ve replaced the foundation, installed seismic upgrades, added central heat, repainted, and much more. (Anybody know a good fireplace guy?)[continue reading]

It is not often clear the path a BPI-certified energy auditor should take, or where exactly the opportunities lie… to buffer existing business, as side work, to work as a full-time energy auditor, or to go out on your own, the opportunities are vast and diverse. Oftentimes we get our energy auditor certification as a kind of back-up plan or to aid a struggling business. Or maybe you attended BPI training as part of ...[continue reading]

Passive House California recently announced that Dr. Diana ‹rge-Vorstatz, Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Working Group III) and Chair of the Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Policy will keynote their upcoming Building Carbon Zero California conference in Palo Alto on Friday, November 13th.† Dr. ‹rge-Vorsatz recently delivered the keynote address at the North American Passive House Network conference in Vancouver, B.C., where she stated:[continue reading]

It's been exciting to read the stories of these great women in our industry in The Real Women of Home Performance blog series.†While we certainly need more women and diversity in general in our industry, I'm energized at what many women in our industry are doing to improve homes, save energy, and make happy homeowners.
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To keep the momentum going, I'd like to invite you to join me at breakfast in Sacramento at ACI ...[continue reading]